I was thinking today about being alone verses feeling alone. I was with a group of people yet I still felt alone. have you ever felt that way? I have come to realize that being alone is a state of being rather than a reality. God is always with us and if we see Him that way then how can we ever be alone? If we see ourselves as if He is with us all the time then we really can't be alone.

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” (Proverbs17:9 NLT)

Let’s just admit it: When you have some crazy-maker in your life, and she’s just done the craziest thingagain it’s almost impossible not to get in the car, pull out your phone, and call somebody and say, “You won’t believe what she just did!”

Or, “You won’t believe what he just did!” In fact, you may even be texting as he’s doing it!

That’s what we do with crazy-makers. We want to tell somebody else. We want affirmation from somebody else. It’s the most difficult thing in the world to let go of it. It may feel good when we call someone to spread the word about the crazy-maker’s craziness, but it’s also unloving.

The Bible says to forgive even your enemies. Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,but dwelling on it separates close friends” (NLT).

Fear: The most gruesome of four letter words known to mankind. Fear is a relentless bully which demands a response each and every time it arrives on our doorstep.

While fear pushes some to over achieve and serve as a catalyst for success, it also drives others to make rockets, launch them, and destroy lives. The presence of fear is the single most dramatic influence on our daily lives and has likely become your number one influence.

Fear infiltrates people, families, churches, communities, work places, social groups, countries, governments… virtually everyone – everywhere. Even the “so-called” fearless people who commit mind boggling stunts are actually living with the fear of losing “something”.

If we stop and think about our lives, virtually every decision is influenced and shaped by some fear. The fear of being wrong, the fear of embarrassment, the fear of rejection, the fear of losing status, the fear of losing a job, the fear of instability.

Fear is clever, like a chameleon, it adapts to the environment and changes to fit the conditions around it. A child may fear the dark hallway just ahead of him. A teenager may fear embarrassment in school. A young adult may fear losing a job if not compliant. A middle aged man may fear the loss of vitality. An old man may fear death or irrelevance.

Unfortunately, fear is big business. The government uses fear to control its people. Terrorists use fear to control its targets. People use fear to manipulate others. Fear sells advertising, fear sparks debate, and fear spreads like an epidemic.

Fear is evil’s chief export and the number one wedge derailing Christians on a daily basis.

Sadly, the church is a fear factory. Many pastors use fear to coerce decisions out of already fear laden people. Church leaders make decisions over the fear of losing members or money. I have found that men who made “fear based” decisions about God rarely stick to their commitment.

If I had to point my finger at the number one reason why I began to write Live Bold – it was to find an outlet to express my fears, uncover the fears we all deal with, and find ways who deal with them through faith in God.

My war cry is for all Christians (myself included) to put down fear and LIVE BOLD! My challenge for you is to answer one simple question – “what is the biggest fear dictating the way I live my life and exercise my faith?”

You see… if we truly believe that God is master of all, maker of all, ruler of all — then we should understand that there is no place for fear. Never let anyone use their fears as a lever in your life. Stand up to them, face them, and back them down. Fear is man made… Faith is God Made. Exercise your faith and conquer your fear.

life isn't fair, it does play by the rules. Funny thing is when you need a time out the most life pours it on even thicker. These things we can do nothing about. Or can we? Be in the world but not of it. Meaning life's funny moments are easier to deal with when we look at them through the eyes of Christ. Secondly when we rest in Christ He will give us strength right when we need it most. Life isn't fair but it's yours to live. We can control how we live it. Choose this day how you will live it.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all of me. To you, O Lord, and I return it. All is Yours. Dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your Love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.”

Today it's not about us it's about those less fortunate than us. I hope you bless someone else with a prayer as I bless all those who read this. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

I walked into the office. The secretary seemed physically struggling with her breathing and her countenance was different than normal. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Allergies," she replied. "Sometimes it gets so bad I can hardly breathe." "May I pray for you?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't want to take up His time with something as menial as me. I'd rather not waste it on me. You should pray for someone much less fortunate than me. My mother always taught us to pray at the dinner table for those less fortunate than us," she replied. The woman was touched that I would offer to pray for her. The next day I told her my prayer group was praying for her. She could not believe that I would do such a thing for her.

It is interesting what happens when you offer to pray for someone. Offering to pray for someone can be the most genuine and loving thing you can do for another person. It can be the one means of getting a conversation on a spiritual plane that cuts across religious stigmas and gets to the root of the problem - the person's real need. It immediately reveals your own values and sets the stage for future encounters. All it takes is a little holy boldness to step through the door when the opportunity seems to present itself.

Is there anything too small to pray about? Do we, in fact, bother God when we make any request that is not dealing with only the poor in Calcutta? Paul clearly tells us in this passage that prayer is talking with God. It is having such a relationship with Him that we can bring anything to His attention.

We've all heard the housewife's prayer for a parking spot or other such seemingly trivial prayer requests, but are they trivial to God? If God is our closest and most intimate friend, then it becomes very natural to talk to Him as you would a friend who might be sitting next to you in the car. Yes, God desires to have such close communion with you and me that we can pray about anything - even a parking spot.

As you enter the workplace today, ask a co-worker if you can pray for him about something. You may be surprised at what doors will open as a result.